Gifts of the
Spirit
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After
revealing and interpreting the dream,
what did Daniel say?
“This is the
meaning of the vision of the rock cut
out of a mountain, but not by human
hands – a rock that broke the
iron, the bronze, the clay, the
silver and the gold to pieces.
“The great God has shown the
king what will take place in the
future. The dream is true and the
interpretation is trustworthy.”
Daniel 2:45.
How
does God show His foreknowledge?
“See the former
things have taken place, and new
things I declare; before they
spring into being I announce them to
you.” Isaiah 42:9.
What
was foretold through the prophet
Joel?
“And afterward, I
will pour out my Spirit on all
people, your sons and daughters
will prophesy, your old men will
dream dreams, your young men will se
visions.” Joel 2:28.
When
did this prediction begin to be
fulfilled?
“No, this what
was spoken by the prophet Joel: In
the last days, I will pour out my
Spirit on all people, Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your young
me will see visions, your old men
will dream dreams.” Acts 2:
16,17.
Prophetic
Leadership
What
were some of the gifts Christ gave to
the church?
“This is why it
says: “When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train and gave
gifts to men.” What doers he
ascended” mean except that he
also descended to the lower, earthly
regions? He who descended is the very
one who ascended higher than all the
heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe. It was he who gave some to
be apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and
some to be pastors and teachers.”
Ephesians 4: 8-11.
By
what means did God deliver and
preserve Israel?
“The Lord used a prophet
to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet
he cared for him.”
Hosea 12:13.
When Moses complained
of his slowness of speech, what did
God say to Aaron should be to him?
“He will speak
to the people for you, and it
will be as if you were your mouth
and as if you were God to him.”
Exodus 4:16.
What
did God afterward call Aaron?
“Then the Lord
said to Moses, See, I have made you
like a god to Pharaoh, and your
brother Aaron will be your prophet.”
Exodus 7:1.
Tests
of True and False Prophets
“If what a
prophet proclaims in the name of the
Lord does not take place or come
true, that is a message the
Lord has not spoken. That
prophet has spoken presumptuously.
Do not be afraid of him.”
Deuteronomy 18:22.
What other test should
be applied in determining the
validity of the claims of a prophet?
“If a prophet, or
one who foretells by dreams, appears
among you and announces to you a
miraculous sign or wonder, and if the
sign or wonder of which he has spoken
takes place, and he says, “Let
us follow other gods” (gods you
have not known) “And let us
worship them,” you must not
listen to the words of that prophet
or dreamer. The Lord your God is
testing you to find out whether you
love him with all your heart and with
all your soul. It is the Lord your
God you must follow, and him you must
revere. Keep his commands and
obey him; serve him and hold fast to
him.” Deuteronomy 13:1-4.
Note – From these
Scriptures it will be seen that, in
the first place, if a prophet’s
words do not prove to be true, it is
evidence that God has not sent that
prophet. On the other hand, even
though the thing predicted comes to
pass, if the intended prophet seeks
to lead others to break God’s
commandments, this, regardless of all
the signs, should be positive
evidence that he is not a true
prophet.
What
rule did Christ give for determining
between true and false prophets?
“Thus by
their fruit you will
recognize them.” Matthew
7:20.
Attitude
Toward God’s Prophets
How did God’s
prophets anciently use the words of
former prophets in exhorting the
people into obedience?
“Are these not
the words the Lord proclaimed through
the earlier prophets when
Jerusalem and its surrounding towns
were at rest and prosperous, and the
Negev and the western foothills were
settled?’” Zechariah 7:7.
What
was the promised result of believing
God’s prophets?
“Early
in the morning they left for the
Desert of Tekoa. As they set out,
Jehoshaphat stood and said,
“Listen to me, Judah and the
people of Jerusalem! Have faith in
the Lord your God and you will be
upheld; have faith in the prophets
and you will be successful.”
2 Chronicles 20:20.
What
admonition is given regarding the
gift of prophecy?
“Do not put out
the Spirit’s fire, do not
treat prophecies with contempt.
Test everything. Hold on to the
good.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 20,21.
What
will characterize the last, or
remnant church?
‘Then the dragon
was enraged at the woman and went off
to make war against the rest of her
offspring – those who obey
God’s commandments and hold
to the testimony of Jesus.”
Revelation 12:17.
What
is the “testimony of
Jesus”?
“Worship God! For
the testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy.”
Revelation 19:10.
(See Revelation 1:9.)
What
results when this gift is absent?
“Where there is
no revelation, the people cast of
restraint; but blessed is he who
keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18.
(See also Psalm 74:9.)
Come, Holy Spirit,
come,
Let Thy bright beams
arise,
Dispel the sorrow from
our minds,
The darkness from our
eyes.
Convince us all of
sin,
Then lead to
Jesus’ blood,
And to our wondering
view reveal
The mercies of our
God.
Revive our drooping
faith,
Our doubts and fears
remove,
And kindle in our
breasts the flame
Of never-dying love.
Come, Holy Spirit,
come,
Our minds from bondage
free;
Then shall we know,
and praise, and love,
The Father, Son, and
Thee.
- Joseph Hart.
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